Cartography and Geographic Information Systems

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Fundamental concepts are taught in the theoretico-practical classes, exercises and practical projects are made using maps and geospatial data within GIS software. Student assessment includes a practical component and a final written exam. The practical component consists of works started off in class and concluded by the students on their own time and of a project report. The practical and theoretical assessment components have weights of respectively 30% and 70% towards the final mark.

Learning Outcomes

The objective of this curricular unit is to provide the necessary training to use cartographic and geospatial information in a Geographic Information System (GIS). To achieve this aim it is necessary to:

1) Know the coordinates and reference systems used for georeferencing to the Earth's surface and how to use them;

2) Know the caracteristics and limitations of the technologies for geospatial data collection;

3) Know the basic principles of cartographic representation;

4) Know how to use a GIS to visualize various types of geospatial data, perform basic spatial analysis operations and create thematic maps.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1.    Georeferencing

1.1.    Coordinate systems and cartographic projections

1.2.    Reference Systems

1.3.    Transformation of coordinates

1.4.    Georeferencing technologies

2.    Cartography

2.1.    Cartographic representation

2..    Cartographic generalization

3.    Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

3.1.    Spatial data structures

3.2.    Relational Databases

3.3.    Representing planimetric and altimetric geospatial information

3.4.    Fundaments of spatial analysis

3.5.    Thematic cartography in GIS environment.

Head Lecturer(s)

Gil Rito Gonçalves

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory work or Field work: 30.0%
Exam: 70.0%

Bibliography

• Gonçalves, J. A., Madeira, S. Sousa, J. J. (2008) Topografia. Editora Lidel.

• Domingues, G. (2000) Noções gerais de geodesia. Instituto Geográfico do Exército.

• Peterson, Gretchen (2009) GIS Cartography: A Guide to Effective Map Design. Boca Roca. CRC Press.

• Longley, P., Goodchild, M., Maguire, D., Rhind, D. (2015) Geographic Information Science and Systems . John Wiley and Sons, Ltd., Chichester, England.

• McMaster,B., Shea, K. (1992) Generalization in Digital Cartography. Association of American Geographers.

• Matos, J.L. (2008) Fundamentos de Informação Geográfica (5ª. ed.). Edições Lidel.

• Monmonier, M. (1996) How to Lie with Maps. The University of Chicago Press. Chicago.